Ruman and Buffomante set fast laps in Road Atlanta practice
April 9, 2016
Kinsland, Francis, Jr., and Flynn lead production classes as weekend commences
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Braselton, GA. [April 9, 2016] – As the Trans Am Series kicked off Round 2 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship with practice as Amy Ruman, Tony Buffomante, Randy Kinsland and Connor Flynn set the tone for the weekend capturing fast laps in the respective classes throughout the 68-car Trans Am field on the 2.54-mile course .
TA2, powered by AEM, took to the track first with Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, and teammate Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 Heritage Motorsports Ford Mustang, battling for the top spot throughout the majority of the session. Ultimately, Buffomante captured the fast time of the session with a 1:26.192 edging out Machavern’s 1:26.256 in a strong showing for the Mike Cope team. Their times both eclipsed last year’s pole and track record set by Adam Andretti—a 1:26.455.
Trans Am veteran Tommy Archer, in the No. 54 Koolmat/Kolar Chevrolet Camaro, set the third best lap of the session turning a 1:26.888 on his fifth time around the course. He was joined in the TA2 top five by fellow veteran Tony Ave, in the No. 04 Roehrig Engineering Chevrolet Camaro, and defending TA2 champ Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Chevrolet Camaro, who turned times of 1:27.300 and 1:27.471, respectively.
The TA2 top ten also featured John Atwell, Kevin Poitras, Shane Lewis, Lawrence Loshak and Justin Haley all staking claims towards the top of the 28-car TA2 field.
Ruman, the TA class defending champ and driver of the No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette, captured the fast lap for the TA class, turning a 1:20.820 on her 11th lap of the session to take the top spot on the charts from Paul Fix. Paul Fix, in the No. 50 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, finished second quick in the session with a 1:22.017. Fix will look to replicate his pole-setting time of 1:20.120 from last year when the TA class holds qualifying later today.
Trans Am veteran Greg Pickett, in the No. 68 Pickett Racing Jaguar XKR, was third quick in the session with a time of 1:22.648; as the former champion continues his return in the series. Pickett was joined in the top five by John Baucom, in the No. 86 Roadraceparts.com Ford Mustang, and David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Chevrolet Corvette, with times of 1:23.173 and 1:23.863, respectively.
The TA class top ten featured the likes of Claudio Burtin, Simon Gregg, Allan Lewis, Joseph Freda and Richard Grant.
In TA3, Randy Kinsland, in the No. 11 Crossroads Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, set the tone with a 1:29.406—beating out Randy Mueller, in the No. 0 Epic Motorsports BMW M3, who turned a 1:29.947 for the top spot. Mueller’s Epic teammate, Michael Camus, in the No. 08 Epic Motorsports BMW M3, was close behind with a time of 1:30.402 of his own. Lee Saunders, 2015 Champion and driver of the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, was fourth in the session with a time of 1:32.353 while Russ Snow, in the No. 20 Guardian Services Chevrolet Corvette, completed the class top five with a time of 1:32.528.
In TA4, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Beta Tools/ Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, set the fast lap of the session, a 1:31.366, just beating out Dean Martin, in the No. 52 Picture Cars East Ford Mustang, who turned a 1:31.433. Francis, the 2015 Champion, will look to replicate his results from last year at Road Atlanta where he emerged victorious.
The TA4 top five also featured rookie Brian Kleeman, in the No. 07 DWW Motorsports Ford Mustang, who captured third in the session with a time of 1:31.788. Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, and Tristian Herbert, in the No. 33 Tilton Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, rounded out the top five with times of 1:31.946 and 1:32.970, respectively.
In the TA5 class, Connor Flynn, in the No. 95 Irish Mike’s Automotive Porsche 997, set the fast lap with a time of 1:30.005, beating out veteran Milton Grant, in the No. 5 Sentry Self/ Courtyard by Marriot Porsche 997, who turned a time of 1:32.088.
The Trans Am Series will return to the Road Atlanta track later today for qualifying, with sessions beginning at 3:00 PM ET with TA2 class qualifying, followed by the TA class at 3:20 PM and TA3/TA4/TA5 at 3:40 PM.
Round 2 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship will be held over the course of two races tomorrow, Sunday, April 10, with an independent TA2, powered by AEM, race at 12:30 PM and the TA/TA3/TA4/TA5 class race at 4:15 PM. Both races will span 101.6 miles, 40 laps around the Road Atlanta course.
Keep up with all the action throughout the weekend at www.gotransam.com, on Twitter at @gotransam and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam.
TA/TA3/TA4/TA5 Practice Results
A NARRA promoted event
